We have for many years been in Canada and Alaska but never really seen the Aurora Borealis. During the summer months the nights are short and sometimes cloudy and we seem to go pretty hard during the day then sleep at night when the “lights” are visible. Too many times our camping neighbors have asked if we saw the lights last night. So we decided to take a special trip when the conditions were favorable to see them. According to the brochure if you stay 3 nights you have a 95% chance of viewing them near Yellowknife, Northwest Territory Canada. We chose the Blanchford Lake Lodge as our destination. We checked the phase of the moon and scheduled during the New Moon to avoid the moonglow interference. We were planning to travel in the southwest this summer and host Willa for a desert adventure during her Spring break so we hurried from Texas to near Las Vegas for our flight.
After several flight adjustments our travel to Yellowknife via Vancouver left much earlier than when we picked the flight but choices to these destinations are pretty limited. So, we added a hotel stay the night before and caught the 3:30AM shuttle to the airport. We sailed through security and grabbed a fast-food breakfast prior to the flight. We had plenty of time for lunch in Vancouver due to the early flight, then it was on to Yellowknife with an 8:30PM landing. The airport at Yellowknife amounted to a building with 3 gates(doors) where you walked across the plane parking area. Glad we kept our coats in the overhead since it was about -4F and windy.
Upon arrival at the hotel we were informed, the kitchen is closed including “bar food” , so it was off into the night in search of Boston Pizza. Boston Pizza also has a full bar so it was a good find for some weary travelers. We learned the next morning the “lights” were visible briefly during our dinner. Seems like our luck is holding true to form.
We were scheduled on the Tindi Air noon flight to the lodge from the “old town” float plane base. 
When we arrived at Tindi we traded our lower 48 winter gear for the real thing. Seems part of the “wilderness float(ski) plane” rules require everyone to be in Survival gear and here that means -35F. Our plane for the trip was a historic/legendary twin Otter. Before we boarded the aft of the plane was loaded with food and supplies for the lodge including fuel for the generator and snowmobiles.
The flight went without event and was pretty smooth considering our altitude was probably less than 2,000 ft. We were greeted upon arrival and given a walking tour of the entire facility while our luggage was distributed.
Blanchford Lake Lodge has been hosting summer and winter adventurers for decades. One member of our group had been to the lodge 32 years earlier and was fascinated by the current conditions. Our choice for the adventure was the original cabin built after the lodge itself. It included sleeping space for up to 7 including the loft, a wood stove for heat and a composting toilet. It took a little practice but it was never too hot or too cold in the cabin other than a couple of times we stayed away too long and the fire went completely cold.
We watched for lights the first night and learned the next morning they were visible around 3:30AM after we gave up around 2. Our luck is still holding.
The next night we had clouds move in after midnight so we went on to bed.
The third night the spectacular
show started around 9:30PM and lasted until after midnight. The lodge had buzzers like are used in restaurants to call when your table is ready for those of us in cabins and they promised to knock on doors unless you had the “do not disturb” sign out. This night the buzzer was jumping and doors were knocked on but we had already noticed the view and were out snapping pictures and enjoying the view. This was the show we came to see.
The fourth night was not spectacular but still worthy of attention between clouds.
During the days we found ourselves hiking the many trails through the wilderness. So beautiful and serene.
One afternoon a “boot” hockey game broke out mostly among the Canadians. Boot hockey is much like sandlot hockey, no skates, self officiated, and the goal at each end was (2)5 gal buckets. We watched and cheered.
All too soon it was time to leave. The puzzle Lynn started the 1st day in the lodge was nearing completion but, that joy was left for the incoming adventurers. We received a heartfelt sendoff from the older couple that mostly stayed behind the scenes and were probably the owners of the lodge.
After our flight back to Yellowknife we ventured across Great Slave Lake to see Yellowknife’s Winterfest.
Each year volunteers construct an ice castle and figures on the lake. The only non-ice items I saw were a couple of wooden doors. The Castle is open for the month of March then demolished and left to melt back into the lake during the spring thaw. An amazing community event.
After a night in Yellowknife it was back to Las Vegas via Vancouver without incident.
But we are not headed back to the motorhome just yet.
We planned to go pickup Willa for her spring break trip. Then Mike and Tracy sweetened the pot. “would we like to take care of both girls in Kingston for a week while they take a mini-vacation of their own”. They got an emphatic yes so after a change of suitcases and a night in Vegas we were NY bound.
While we were in NY we learned of the sudden closure of Blandford Lake Lodge. Seems inflation added on top of the pandemic stretched the operation too thin to continue. Seems a shame. Really glad it held out till after our trip.
